Buccaneers vs. Falcons – NFL Game Recap – January 8, 2023
ATLANTA — — desmond rider He had almost a full season to plan how he would celebrate his first touchdown pass.
After finally throwing the long-awaited TD in the final game of the regular season, Ridder forgot all those plans. Fortunately, the veteran runner Cordarelle Patterson he had Ridder’s back and remembered catching the ball for the Atlanta Falcons rookie.
Ridder’s first two touchdown passes propelled the Falcons to a 30-17 victory over the playoff-bound. Tampa Bay Buccaneers the sunday after tom brady added to his impressive list of records.
Ridder completed a four game audition to close out the season. Before Sunday, he had impressed coach Arthur Smith with his poise, but he had no touchdown passes in his first three starts.
Ridder ended the drought by rolling to his right and unleashing a 2-yard touchdown pass tight end My Cole Pruitt in the first trimester. When asked if he remembered the plan he had made to celebrate his first TD pass, Ridder smiled and shook his head.
“No, it was pure emotion,” Ridder said. “Pruitt and I were yelling at each other and I was looking for the ball and I saw CP run up and grab it for me. I knew I was waiting for that too.”
On a day when the Buccaneers had little to play for other than staying in playoff shape, Brady left the game in the second quarter and had to watch the rest of his first career loss to the Falcons from the bench.
Brady was in the game long enough to break his own NFL record for most completions in a season.
Brady had gone 11-0 in his career against Atlanta, including New England’s 34-28 win over the Falcons in the Super Bowl after the 2016 season. Led by Brady, the Patriots rallied from a 28-game deficit. -3.
The Falcons haven’t been allowed to forget the epic Super Bowl collapse, but now they can claim to be responsible for Brady’s first regular-season Finals loss.
Brady and the other healthy Tampa Bay regulars started even though the Buccaneers (8-9) clinched the NFC South title by beating Carolina 30-24 last week and were clinched as the NFC’s fourth seed in the playoffs.
Brady said, “It’s a big challenge” to get a losing record into the playoffs.
“It’s going to be tough, but we’re battle-tested,” Brady said. “We’ve had some tough games. Some of us came back. Some of us haven’t. But like I said, closing down won’t be good enough to move on for anyone.”
Brady had winning records in 21 consecutive regular seasons with New England and Tampa Bay prior to this season.
Rookie Tyler Allgeier he rushed for 135 yards on 24 carries to end the fifth straight losing season for Atlanta (7-10) under second-year coach Arthur Smith.
Brady began the day needing nine completions to surpass his record of 485 in a 2021 season. He set the mark on a 5-yard pass to russell gagethe former wide receiver for the Falcons, early in the second quarter.
“These are all team records in my opinion,” Brady said. “I’ve always said that.”
Brady already holds many NFL career passing records, including yards, completions and touchdowns.
Brady completed 13 of 17 passes for 84 yards with a touchdown, giving him 490 completions on the season. Brady capped Tampa Bay’s opening drive with a 8-yard touchdown pass tight end kyle rodolfo.
Ridder threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Olamide Zacchaeus late in the third quarter for a 20-17 lead. Patterson added a 2-yard scoring run.
by Gabbert 3-yard touchdown pass to Gage gave the Bucs a 17-10 halftime lead.
FALCONS Rookie Milestones
Allgeier finished his season with 1,035 rushing yards, a team record for rookies. drake london surpassed the Falcons record for receptions in a season for a rookie. kyle pits he had 68 receptions in 2021. London had six receptions for 120 yards and finished the season with 72 receptions.
BRADY’S ENDORSEMENTS
Buccaneers coach Todd Bowles used backup blaine gabert behind Brady before sophomore quarterback kyle trask he made his NFL debut in the fourth quarter. Gabbert completed 6 of 8 passes for 29 yards with a TD. Trask completed 3 of 9 passes for 23 yards.
LOVE FOR LAMAR
Falcons and Buccaneers officials and coaches, including Smith and Bowles, paid tribute to buffalo bills security damar hamlin when using ” love for damar ” with Hamlin’s number 3. Hamlin remained hospitalized Sunday but kept progressing in his recovery after having to be resuscitated on the field in a game in Cincinnati on Monday.
INJURIES
The Buccaneers’ offense lost two starters in the first quarter. Hub Robert Hainsey he left the game with a hamstring injury. wide receiver mike evans was ruled out with a disease. Rudolph was ruled out with a knee injury in the third quarter. Security Keanu Neal he suffered a hip injury in the third quarter.
Falcons left guard Matt Hennessey left the game with a knee injury in the third quarter.
UNTIL NEXT TIME
Buccaneers: They will host the NFC Wild Card game next weekend.
Falcons: Will shift focus to making roster decisions and preparing for the NFL draft before opening their 2023 season at home against the carolina panthers.
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